Warm zero-dong class of the deputy head of the neighborhood in Ho Chi Minh City

lớp học 0 đồng - Ảnh 1. — Mr. Huynh Quang Khai guides a child to read in a free class - Photo: NGOC KHAI

On the afternoon of November 17, after the free meal, many children at the charity class prepared their books and sat down at their desks to start learning Vietnamese under the guidance and instruction of Mr. Huynh Quang Khai (neighborhood 57, Tan Thoi Hiep ward, Ho Chi Minh City, formerly district 12).

It's great to see the children learning to read and write for the first time.

Along with Mr. Khai, who enthusiastically guides the children in reading and writing, is Mr. Vo Truong Sanh - a website programmer. Mr. Sanh shared that for nearly a year now, after work, he often goes to class in the evening to help the children read correctly, write, and do math.

"He is strict and sometimes humorous, always neat and maintains discipline in class. I feel happy to contribute a small part to help the students," Mr. Sanh shared.

Sharing with Tuoi Tre Online , Mr. Khai said that in 2007, he participated in youth union activities in the neighborhood. Seeing that some children in difficult circumstances could not go to school, he and his fellow youth union members borrowed the neighborhood office to open a free class.

In 2014, the class was suspended for 6-7 months while he went to do his internship as a tour guide. Since September 2014, he has borrowed land from his grandparents to continue teaching the children until now.

"The motivation that keeps me going in this class is the look in the children's eyes when they first learn to read, write their first letters, and read a word. I feel very happy," he said.

Mr. Khai said that currently the zero-dong class has 27 students, the largest number was 114 students in 2018. The children are from 8 to 15 years old, studying two main subjects: Vietnamese and math, grades 1 to 5. Their parents work as construction workers, workers, and have difficult family circumstances.

The class has a number of adults coming to learn to read and write. The class also receives enthusiastic support from a number of teachers and volunteers.

To live is to give

There was a student who fainted in class because he "hadn't eaten anything", so for the past few years, Mr. Khai has maintained the free meals with the help of many people, including his mother, in cooking rice, pho, noodles...

To make things fun for the children, the class also has a free canteen. When children wear the correct uniform and raise their hands to speak, they will receive "coins" to exchange for rice, toys, and candy.

He shared that his motto is "to live is to give" and he was very happy to see the children learning to read and write for the first time. One of his most touching memories was when, on November 20, the children lined up to give him flowers, mangoes, plums, guavas... and unsold lottery tickets.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Minh Trang - Khai's mother - shared that he is the only son in the family. She always supports and encourages her son to maintain the charity class by cooking meals for the children. Every time she sees the children reading clearly and making progress, she feels very happy.

Mr. Nguyen Van Sang - Head of Quarter 57, Tan Thoi Hiep Ward - said that Mr. Huynh Quang Khai was the deputy head of Quarter 33 (Hiep Thanh Ward, formerly District 12) from around October 2024 to June 2025. From July 2025 to present, Mr. Khai has been the deputy head of Quarter 57, Tan Thoi Hiep Ward.

Mr. Sang said that Mr. Khai always did a good job in the neighborhood. Regarding the class that Mr. Khai has maintained for many years, Mr. Sang said that the class operates properly and on time, and has been operating for a long time. During the recent Mid-Autumn Festival, neighborhood 57 paid attention to the children in this class.

"I've visited several times and found the children here to be very well-behaved and polite when greeting adults," said Mr. Sang.